Electric switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPucmon mm FEB. 24, i914.

Patented fiept. 12, 1916.

(JIIABLES J. KLEIN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THECUTLER-HAMMER IVIFG (30., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at M11- waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsim have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference be ng had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification. This invention relates to electrlc switches.

of the objects of the invention 1s to provide a compact and sturdy snapsw tch mechanism capable of efficient use in various forms of switchdevices.

In order to more clearly disclose my invcntion I have illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing. It is to beunderstood, however, that the mechanism shown is susceptible ofmodlfication and capable of use in devices other than that represented.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism; Fig. 2 isa sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. is a top view of theswitchfmechanism incorporated in a surface switch devlce, the cover ofthe latter being removed; and, Fig. i is a sectional view on the line4-4 of Fig. 3.

The switch mechanism illustrated comprises, in general, a reciprocatingoperating member, 1, a reciprocating contact 2, and an energy storingconnection between the two, including a spring 3, for effecting a snapmovement of the contact upon actuation of the operating member.

Referring. more specifically to the drawing, the operating membercomprises a stamped plate 4 ha 'ing push button extrem1- ties andslidably mounted on a stationary U-shaped frame 5. The upright ends ofthis frame are provided with alinedrecesses for receiving and guidingthe operating member. The contact memb r also preferably comprises astamped plate having a bodyportion 2 superposed on the operating plateand held in position thereon. An upright spindle 8 is carried by alateral extension 9 of the frame and itself carries the coil spring 3,which latter has straightened radial extremities 10 and 11 projectingacross the upper surface of the contact and operating plates. Theextremities of the spring are biased apart and restrained againstseparation by engagement with lugs 12 and 13 on the contact plate 2 andcorresponding lugs 14 and 15 on the operating member.

The relation of the parts thus far described is such that movement ofthe operating member would tend, through the medium of the coil spring,to move the contact member in the same direction. Locking means isprovided to restrain movement of the contact member until after thespring has been tensioned. This means comprises a plate 16 reciprocablein a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of theoperating member and having a shoulder 17 adapted to enter one of twonotches 18 in the contact member to lock the latter against movement.The locking plate is guided in movement and held in position by lugs 19on the stationary frame and is biased inwardly by a short contractionspring 20 secured to the spindle 8. The operating plate 4. is providedwith a concave recess on its outer edge affording inclined cam 'faces 21adapted to engage the plate 16 as the operating member is reciprocatedto move the same away from the contact and out of engagement with thesides of the notch therein. The cam faces 21 of the operating plate areso spaced that the ope ating member is free to move substantiallythroughout its entire range of reciprocation prior to engagement ofeither cam face with the plate 16.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the switch mechanism is illustrated asapplied to a surface switchdevice. substantially rectangular insulatingbase 22 is provided with a recess 23 having the switch mechanismcentrally mounted therein by suitable means, such as a screw extension24, of the spindle 8. At one end of the base are located a pair ofstationary contacts provided with contact surfaces 25 lying in a planefor engagement with the bridging end 6 of the switch contact and havingbinding In this embodiment a posts 26 for connection with line wiresentering the base through adjacent apertures 27. The opposite walls ofthe base are provided with recesses to accommodate the push-buttons ofthe switch operating member.

Assuming the switch to be in the off position shown in Fig. 3, pressureon the right push button effects the following operation of themechanism: The 1112' 15 of the operating member presses against andcarries the extremity 11 of the coil spring 3 to ward the left andaccordingly tensions the spring since its opposite extremity 10 isheldagainst movement by engagement with the contact lug 12. The contact inturn is restrained against movement by the shoulder of the locking plate16 projecting into the notch 18. As movement of the operating member iscontinued, however, the right cam face 21 of the latter engages, atapproximately the extreme movement of the operating plate, with'thelocking member 16 and forces the latter to freed position. The tensionof the spring is thus suddenly released and the contact member israpidly thrown to the left by means of the spring arm 10. Circuitbetween the stationary contacts on the base is thereupon closed with asnap action. In this position the sliding plate 16 is again biasedinwardly by the spring 20 and adjusts the parts so that the plate isprojected into the other notch 18 of the contact member. Oppositereciprocation of the operating member reverses the co-action between theparts in a manner similar to that described and effects at its limit ofreciprocation a snap movement of the contact to off position.

Movement of the operating member is limited in any suitable manner, forexample, by means of engagement between the lugs 14: and 15 of theoperating member with the end walls of the stationaryframe 5. It is tobe noted that reciprocation of the operating member is limited atsubstantially the moment the contact member is thrown to its oppositeposition, and that if pressure is removed from the operating member atany time prior to the snap actuation of the contact the spring acts toreturn the operating member to its former extreme position. Movement ofthe contact member .is limited I by engagement between its shoulderedextremities and the outer ends of the framevuprights.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a supporting frame, a.reciprocable operating member mounted thereon and guided thereby, areciprocablecontact member, a pair of spaced lugs on each of saidmembers, a spindle mounted on said frame and offset from said members, acoil spring on said spindle having extremities biased apart andrestrained between said lugs, a reciprocable member biased to engage andlock said contact member in each extreme position of the latter, and aconcave cam carried by said operating member and adapted to engage saidlocking member for reciprocating the latter out of engagement with saidcontact member.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a

. connection therebetween comprising a 1 frame, a reciprocable operatingmember thereon, a reciprocable contact member alined with said operatingmember, a pair of spaced lugs on each of said members, a coil springhaving extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs, areciprocable locking member biased to engage said contact member forlocking the latter in each extreme position, and a concave cam movablewith said operating member and adapted to engage and reciprocate saidlocking member as said operating member approaches either extremeposition.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operatingmember, a, reciprocable contact member and an energy storing ir ofspaced lugs on each of said members, a relatively stationary coil springhaving extremities biased apart and restrained between said lugs of saidtwo members, a lock ing member for retaining said cont-act memher ineach extreme position and means carried by said operating member andadapted to move said locking member to release said contact member assaid operating member approaches either extreme position.

41 In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocable operatingmember, a reciprocable contact member and an energy storing connectiontherebetween comprising a pair of spaced lugs on each of said members, arelatively stationary coil spring having extremities biased apart andrestrained between said lugs of said two members, and

means for releasably restraining said con tact member against movement.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocally actingoperating member, a reciprocally acting contact member, an energystoring connection therebetween, an integral stamped metal frame forsupporting said parts comprising a base and upstanding lugs spaced tosupport said reciprocally acting members for movement therebetween andconstituting stops to limit movement of both said members in eitherdirection.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a reciprocally actingoperating member, a reciprocally, acting contact member, an energystoring connection therebetween including a reciprocally acting latch, astamped metal frame for supporting said members comprising a base andintegral upstanding lugs spaced to support all of said reciprocallyacting members for movement therebetween and certain of said lugsconstituting stops to 'limit movement of said operating member lugs, areciprocable locking member to hold said contact member against movementduring a predetermined initial movement of said operating member, a coilspring biasing said locking member toward said contact member, and aconcave cam carried. by said operating member and having active faces toengage and reciprocate said locking member Y 0 its releasing positionafter said first-mennesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. VVitnesses':

S. A. VATSON, TEI-ILA BAST.

James of this @etent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "commissioner of Peten'te,

Washingtoml). C.

